Lighten up

Most of the time, my family eats really healthy meals.  However, there are a few favorites that are not so healthy that I throw in from time to time just because we love them.  Sometimes I have my doubts when it comes to making a "light" version of a favorite rich and creamy dish.  I don't want to sacrifice taste for fewer calories.  In most cases, I would rather eat a smaller portion of a delicious full fat dish than eat a lesser quality meal to save a few calories.  Cooking Light magazine last month published this Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo recipe that peaked my interest.  I was hesitant but still curious enough to want to try it.  Fettuccine Alfredo is one of our all time favorite dinners. 

Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo

9 ounces refrigerated fettuccine
1 pound peeled and deviened medium shrimp
2 green onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup half and half
3 Tablespoons 1/3 less-fat cream cheese
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid.  Heat oil in skillet over medium heat.  Add shrimp, onions and garlic.  Sauté 4 minutes or until shrimp are done.  Remove shrimp from pan.   Add reserved liquid to empty skillet along with cheese, half and half, cream cheese and pepper.  Cook 2 minutes.  Combine pasta, cheese mixture and shrimp.  Sprinkle with parsley.

According to Cooking Light each serving has 441 calories, 14.3 grams of fat and 37.4 grams of protein.  

I'm not really sure how many calories are in my regular alfredo sauce but if this is the light version, I don't think I want to know.   Everyone really liked it and my family didn't even notice that it was a lighter version.  In this case, lower fat and fewer calories didn't mean sacrificing taste.  This recipe went into my recipe binder as one to make again and again.  

Bon Appetit!

Kids in the Kitchen

Ben and I are celebrating our 18th wedding anniversary today.  In honor of our special day, we decided to turn the kids loose in the kitchen to make lunch.  I really wasn't sure what to expect but they rose to the challenge. 

 

Ryan made Ben an egg, bacon and cheese sandwich on a sandwich thin.  It looked pretty tasty.

Courtney made me an egg sandwich.  A half of a sandwich thin, a slice of longhorn cheese, a soft cooked egg 

... and  a smoothie.



It was quite good.

Thanks to my wonderful kids for our delicious lunch.  I truly enjoyed it.   I think I'm going to let the kids cook lunch more often. 





Bon Appetit!

Sweet memories

I grew up eating waffles.  My mom made really good waffles for our family when I was growing up.  When I got a little older, my grandmother and I would go to breakfast at our favorite little restaurant, Yours Truly.  We would both order a Belgium waffle and sit in a booth sipping piping hot coffee, eating our waffles and talking about the adventures of life.  The waffles were light, crispy and delicious but spending time with my grandmother was even sweeter. I cherish those memories of her and the time that we were able to spend together. 

I have tried to recreate those waffles for my family at home.  Although the atmosphere is different and the company has changed, the waffles are just as crispy I remember. 


Buttermilk Waffles
1 Tablespoon sugar                             1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups flour                                           2 eggs
1/2 cup dried buttermilk                    1/4 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 teaspoon salt                                 1/4 cup oil
1/2 teaspoon baking powder             1 1/4 cups seltzer water





Whisk flour, sugar, buttermilk, salt and baking powder.  Stir together sour cream, eggs, vanilla and oil.  Stir seltzer into wet ingredients.









Pour into dry ingredients and stir gently.












Pour batter into the waffle iron and wait for the beep. 







I like my waffles simple - with just a sprinkling of powdered sugar.  My family likes to eat them with maple syrup and fresh strawberries.  Either way - they're delicious. 

Bon Appetit!

Sweet Nachos

Apples + marshmallows + caramel + chocolate chips + peanuts + sprinkles = pure bliss.  If you have apples in your house - you need to try these apple nachos - you won't regret it.  This recipe came from my Taste of Home Fall Baking magazine.

Apple nachos
36 caramels
1 Tablespoon water
30 large marshmallows
1/3 cup butter
4 medium apples, sliced on a mandolin (I dipped mine in sprite to keep them from turning brown.)
1/3 cup chopped peanuts
1/3 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
3 Tablespoons Halloween sprinkles

Melt caramels with water in microwave.  Stir until smooth.
Melt marshmallows and butter in saucepan.
Arrange apple slices on a platter. 
Drizzle with caramel.
Top with marshmallows.
Sprinkle with peanuts, chocolate chips and sprinkles. 






I had intended to serve the apples for dessert but everyone was so excited to try them that we dove right in.   

They were messy but super good.  I have to agree with the kids on this one - apple nachos rock. 

Bon Appetit!

Healthy Inspiration

I made my first trip to Earth Fare in Athens today and I must say I was blown away.  The mission of this healthy supermarket: "To feed and inspire the healthy person inside you."  From time to time, I think we all need a little encouragement to continue (or even to start) healthy eating habits.  If you are looking for some motivation - head to your local Earth Fare market and prepare to be inspired.   

The bushels of fresh produce are outstanding.  Where else can you find a french butter pear?  Most everything was organic and looked really fresh.  I had to stop myself from buying one of everything. 

They also have a LOT of bulk foods.  Check out this selection of specialty flours, rice, couscous, granola, etc.  I was overwhelmed by all of the choices.  Now I know where to go when I am looking for a specialty ingredient for a recipe.

My next stop on my trip around the store - trail mix heaven.  I am such a sucker for trail mix and I couldn't end my trip to Earth Fare without trying a least one.  After about 5 minutes of trying to decided, I finally settled on one with cashews, almonds, dried fruit and dark chocolate stars.   (pictured below on right)

 There was also a barrel full of chocolate covered malt balls - serious chocolate.  (picture above on left)

As I browsed through the isles of the store, this bulk spice display caught my eye.  I don't know who came up with this idea but it's genius.  The concept - portion out the amount of spice that you need from the bulk jars and pay for only the amount that you are going to use.  I can't tell you how many jars of spices are in my pantry that I hardly ever use because I needed 1 teaspoon of a specific spice for a recipe.  I end up throwing the rest of the jar away because it expires before I have the chance to use it.  I love the idea of bulk spices.









This is a just a portion of the cheese selection at Earth Fare.  I was totally impressed with the variety of the cheese that they had to offer. 

They also have an extensive wine collection to go along with these fabulous cheeses. 





I could go on and on about all of the things that this supermarket has to offer.  They offer a full service deli, bakery and meat department.  They even have a family friendly eating area for customers who want to stop in for a quick bite to eat.  Next time that I go to Earth Fare, I'm going for lunch because their sandwiches looked amazing. 



The best part about shopping at this supermarket is knowing that they don't sell anything that contains trans fats, artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup or synthetic grown hormones.

Before I left, I had a chance to talk with the community relations coordinator of the store and she even hooked me up with this awesome goodie bag.  I am super excited to try the gluten free Namaste chocolate cake mix.  (Be on the lookout for that blog soon.) 

I highly recommend that you check out your local Earth Fare supermarket - you won't be disappointed. 


Bon Appetit!

Happy Fall

Today is the first day of Fall.   The trees in Atlanta are just starting to show their true colors.

I love this time of year.  Fall always puts me in the mood to bake so to commemorate the start of this new season,  I baked a couple of loaves of pumpkin bread.  I found this recipe in the Taste of Home Fall Baking magazine that I picked up at Sams last weekend. 

Swirled Pumpkin Yeast Bread
4 1/2 cups flour                                     Filling
3 cups whole wheat flour                     1/4 cup butter, melted
2 cup oats                                                1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar                             1 teaspoons cinnamon
2 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon sugar
5 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 cup pumpkin
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup canola oil
2 eggs
1/2 cup raisins

In bowl of standing mixer, combine 2 coups flour, wheat flour, oats, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, salt, sugar and yeast.  Beat in water, pumpkin, applesauce and oil.  Add eggs and beat until smooth.  Stir in remaining flour.  Add raisins.  Knead 6-8 minutes.  Place in a greased bowl, cover and let rise 1 hour.

 Punch dough down and divide into 2 pieces.  Roll each portion into an 18” rectangle.  Brush with butter.  Combine brown sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over dough.
Roll up and place each loaf in a greased loaf pan.  Cover and let rise 30 minutes. 
Bake bread for 55 minutes at 350. 

I had a slice of pumpkin bread with a salad for dinner - it was fabulous.

I cut another slice for breakfast.  I toasted it and added cream cheese - even better.

Tomorrows breakfast - toasted pumpkin bread with a drizzle of honey.  Can't wait to try it. 

I wrapped the second loaf of pumpkin bread and put it in my freezer for next month.

Bon Appetit!

Ready for Fall

I considered taking Mia for a walk in the park this morning but my legs are still recovering from the Plyometric Legs workout that I did yesterday.  I decided to take her to the dog park instead.

Mia reminded me of the kids when I used to take them to the playground.  She was so excited that she jumped out of the car and darted straight to the park.  There was only one other dog there who just happened to be a 9 year old male Wiemaraner.  Mia was in heaven - a dog park AND a playmate!  She ran around like a crazy dog until her playmate had to leave.  Mia really wasn't really all that interested in staying at the park once her friend left - sound familiar?  So we took a quick lap around the lake and then headed home. 

When I got home from the park, I started on a batch of sugar cookie dough.  I was working on some cookies to send to school but I had some leftover dough so I decided to make tiny cookie cutouts.  I don't even remember where I bought these little cookie cutters but I use them quite a bit when I have small scraps of cookie dough leftover.  The kids gobbled them up in no time when they got off the bus.   

Williams Sonoma Sugar Cookies
1 cup butter                     2 ½ cups flour
¾ cup sugar                    1 teaspoon baking powder
3 egg yolks                       ½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla

Beat butter and sugar for 4 minutes.  Add egg yolks.  Add vanilla.  Combine dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture.  Divide dough into 4 portions, wrap and refrigerate overnight.  Preheat oven to 350.  Roll dough to ¼“ thickness and cut with cookie cutters.  Place on baking sheets and bake 8 minutes.

 

Bon Appetit!